Werewolf Dreams (18 page)

As her hand reached the doorknob, she wrenched the door open and slammed it just as the large animal leaped against the door.
She flipped the lock and stared through the glass at a face that wasn’t human but wasn’t exactly wolf either. She gasped as she realized what she was looking at.
A werewolf.

The animal stood on its hind legs with its paws on either side of its face,
pressed against the glass and staring at her as if it were trying to take her measure. The wolf’s gray eyes bore into her like a murderer’s knife. They appeared to be the eyes of a beast with feral rage, yet behind that primal intent was an intellect that was frightening in its humanity. The beast was tall and its chest was broad with muscles that were massive and sleek. Raw, lethal power radiated from its body like heat.
She broke out into a cold sweat and backed up slowly as the animal bared its teeth at her in an unmistakable threat before landing on its legs and walking nonchalantly away.

She slowly walked back to the glass patio door and watched as the animal walked around the back yard as if he owned it.
He glanced back at her before he disappeared behind a tree and then he was gone.

Ava rubbed her hands up and down her chilled arms and let out a shaky breath.
Maybe Patricia’s note had been specific after all. She walked shakily to the kitchen and got a glass of water as a feeling of nervousness swept over her. Mate or no mate, how could she live in a place where she was constantly in danger? Cyrus couldn’t be with her every second of the day. It would drive him nuts and her insane. But on the other hand, being eaten by a wolf like the tourists wasn’t something she wanted to experience. And for the first time, it finally dawned on her what a terrifying horrific murder scene those cottages must have been.

She rested her elbows on the kitchen counter and dropped her head as the excess adrenaline refused to stop pumping through her body
and she had trouble regulating her breathing. Ava raised her head as Cyrus, followed by his parents, walked into the kitchen. He looked stressed out but he smiled when he caught sight of her. She stood up slowly, trying to smile back and wondered why he was frowning all of a sudden.

“What’s happened?” Cyrus demanded hurrying around the counter to take her in his arms.

Ava looked away guiltily, not wanting to admit that she’d left the house, when she felt him grip her upper arms, forcing her to look at him.
“
Ava,
what happened? You’re practically exploding with adrenaline.”

Ava bit her lip as Tobias and Patricia came to stand next to their son, looking at her curiously. “I went outside, to um, where you showed me, and I noticed this shadow moving through the trees.
I kept watching it and it turned out to be a really large wolf,” she said, stopping when Cyrus looked over at his father worriedly. “And then I noticed it was moving up the ravine toward me, so I ran back to the house as fast as I could. I barely got inside in time. The wolf stood up on its hind legs and just stared at me for a few minutes and then it bared its teeth before sauntering away. It just barely happened. It might even still be in the back yard. Cyrus, I think it was a werewolf. The way it stared at me was so freaky,” she said worriedly, wondering if she’d ever feel safe walking around the yard again.

Cyrus dropped her arms and immediately ran for the back door, followed closely by his father.
She and Patricia rushed to the glass door and right before her eyes, she saw Cyrus and his father jump over the railing and turn into wolves before her eyes. She blinked a few times, her mouth hanging open as she stared in wonder and horror as the man she knew she was mated to, now ran through his back yard, in the shape of massive, beautiful brown wolf. His father was right at his side, a larger version of his son and then they were gone, leaping over the back fence and out into the wild.

“
Cyrus?
” she whispered. Patricia took her gently by the arm and led her to a couch, forcing her to sit down as she took her hands.

“Ava? Ava, look at me.
Ava, snap out of it!”
Patricia ordered firmly.

Ava blinked and shuddered as she focused on Patricia’s face.
“They . . .,
they!”
she said lamely, shaking her head back and forth.

Patricia nodded her head slowly and firmly.
“Yes Ava. They just turned into wolves. When you’re experienced at changing you can do it quickly. For your first time, it won’t be quite like that. But you are capable of doing what you just saw them do.”

Ava looked at Patricia as if she were insane.
“You are crazy. I can’t do that! My body . . . look! My body, is my body. Their bodies just jerked and then moved and flowed into wolves
. I saw it
!” she said, as if Patricia hadn’t been standing right next to her the whole time.

Patricia sighed and closed her eyes, looking for patience.
“That probably wasn’t the best way to introduce you to changing, but it is what it is, now try to deal with it please. I know you’ve had a shock, but snap out of it. We’ve got a lot to talk about. By the time Tobias and Cyrus get back from tracking whoever it was threatening you, you need to be ready. There are things we have to discuss and your brain needs to be working.”

Ava groaned and cradled her head in her hands, knowing she’d need a life time to deal with what she’d just seen.
She heard Patricia get up from the couch and walk to the back door. She was obviously worried. Ava glanced up at her and somehow knew that if she hadn’t been here, that Patricia would have been right alongside Cyrus and Tobias.

Ava pulled her feet up under her and hugged herself as she stared at the floor.
“Do you offer counseling services here in Paskell for people traumatized by werewolves?” she finally asked.

Patricia turned and stared at her for a moment before bursting out laughing.
“Well, if you can joke about it, you’re fine. And the answer is no. No one’s ever needed it before. You would be the first,” she said with a wry grin.

Ava sighed and closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the couch.
She had figured on Cyrus returning within fifteen minutes or so, but it was more than two hours before he and his father walked through the hallway coming from the front of the house.

Ava hurried to Cyrus who held his arms open for her.
As soon as he wrapped his long, strong arms around her, she felt safe once more.

“You were gone so long,” she said with a frown.

Cyrus nodded and led her back to the couch. “It was fast. We were on its tail for at least ten miles before we cornered it down by the paper mill.”

Tobias sat down heavily and smiled his gratitude as Patricia handed him a glass of ice water and then moved to hand Cyrus one as well.
They both drank thirstily and handed the glasses back.

Ava tilted her head and frowned as she
stared at Cyrus. “Did you know him?”

Cyrus glanced at his dad and mom before answering.
“No. Ava, that wasn’t technically a werewolf. The animal you saw is what we call a hybrid. I’m positive it was part of the pack that killed all of those people. This one’s dead though. We took so long because we called in Kurt and Red to come pick up the body. Dad’s going to call Harry and we’re going to send someone to deliver it to the lab so he can do tests on it. But I can tell you right now, it’s definitely a hybrid.”

Ava glanced around the room in confusion.
“I’m sorry, but I just don’t understand what that means. I mean, we’re kind of hybrids right? Half human, half animal? So what is the difference between us and that thing you hunted?”

Cyrus looked at her in surprise.
“Ava, we’re not half animal, half human. We’re human, with the ability to transform into the
form
of a wolf at will. But we’re not wolves. Hybrids are different. Hybrids happen when a werewolf mates with a real wolf while in wolf form. The offspring, born by a female wolf are what we call hybrids. They’re evil, twisted animals, born insane because of the unnatural combination of human and animal DNA. They’re highly intelligent, vicious blood thirsty animals, more dangerous than any animal on earth,” he said, closing his eyes in disgust.

Ava’s mouth fell open in shock.
“So that means, someone here, in this town, mated with wolves and his offspring killed all those people. But why would one of them come after me? I don’t get it. Could it have just been random? Like the hybrid saw me and decided to come investigate?”

Cyrus shook his head.
“
No
. No hybrid would dare come this close to town. There’s no coincidence. Their father, whoever that is, can communicate with his offspring and whoever did, told them to come here and kill you. I’m sure of it.”

Ava
jerked, her eyes wide in surprise and horror. Tobias leaned forward and patted her knee comfortingly. “Don’t you worry sweetheart. Cyrus here is the fastest wolf in town. That hybrid didn’t stand a chance. You’re safe as long as you’re with one of us. But it’s starting to look like California is the safest option for you right now. You’ve already been attacked, threatened and now almost killed. We need to seriously consider moving her to a safer location,” he said, looking pointedly at his son.

Cyrus sat up and glared at his father.
“Then I’d have to leave with her and you know I can’t right now. Not now that Titus has gone insane. I’m making my claim for Alpha this week. He can’t be allowed to continue to lead our people down a path of no morals, no justice and no order. He’s a complete sociopath. I have to stop him and I can’t do that if I’m dying because she’s not here.”

Tobias lifted his hands to stop his son’s tirade.
“Don’t you think I know son? When your mother left for two days because she thought I’d picked a different mate, I was a quivering mass of agony. I know what I’m asking of you. But a few days of agony is better than a funeral. And I for one do not want to be the one to explain to my best friend how I allowed someone kill his daughter. It’s not worth it.”

Cyrus’s eyes turned to slits.
“To you maybe.”

Patricia gasped and Tobias turned red in the face.
“Watch it Cyrus. You know what Harry will do if he comes back and finds his only daughter dead. He will tear you to pieces and I will have to stand back and let him do it. I can’t Cyrus! I can’t do that. For everyone’s sake here, consider what’s best. Things have gotten out of control in a very short time. It’s time to take action,
yes
, but it’s also time to be smart and cautious. You’re always the one preaching about controlling the inner animal inside. Well, now it’s time to practice what you preach,” he said pleading with his son for reason.

Patricia stared at her son’s stiff, expressionless face and patted his knee softly.
“I understand what your father is saying, but I also see your point of view. I’ll support you whatever you decide. But in reality, the decision isn’t yours to make. It’s Ava’s,” she said, turning to look at her.

Ava swallowed nervously as all eyes turned to her.
Cyrus squeezed her hand comfortingly and smiled stiffly at her. “Ava, like you said, we really don’t know each other very well. Through instinct, we’ve chosen each other as mates. My father is right, if you choose to leave, it will be torturous for both of us for two or three days, and then gradually it will get better. It will be like going through heroin withdrawals. But it’s survivable. You can’t come back from the dead though. Someone out there is trying to kill you. There’d be no other reason to send a hybrid after you. They’re only good for one thing.
Killing
. They have no mercy. Their only joy in life is destruction and death. And now that Titus has lost all reason, it’ll be hard to protect you. My father is absolutely right. California is the best place for you right now. I can drive you to the airport this afternoon and then come back and deal with everything here, better, knowing that you’re safe and out of harm’s way. What do you think?” he asked calmly as his eyes told her how hard it was for him to tell her to go.

Ava stared at Cyrus for a few moments and then at Patricia and Tobias.
She shook her head and looked at her lap. “I’m not going anywhere Cyrus. If I die, I die, but I won’t leave your side. Besides, like you said yesterday, I’m good back up and I can take care of myself,” she said with more confidence then she felt.

She gasped as Cyrus pulled her onto his lap and wrapped her in his arms, hiding his face in her hair.
She wrapped her arms around his back and smoothed his hair down with her hand. She felt the tension in his body slowly ease. She glanced up to see Patricia looking relieved and Tobias looking resigned.

“Heaven help us,” he said and shook his head, but smiled at her proudly.
“Well, you’re a fighter, that’s for sure.”

Patricia grinned at her.
“Well, that’s that then.”

Ava grinned briefly and then rubbed her hand up and down Cyrus’s back until he lifted his face to her.
She kissed him briefly on the lips and smiled. “Hey, I’m not leaving. It’s okay,” she said softly.

“
But you could have
. I was telling you to go,” he said, sounding sick to his soul and shaky.